Former New York Secretary of State Sandy Treadwell (R) is set to air his first television ads of the campaign in the Empire State’s 20th District, according to a knowledgeable GOP source.

Treadwell still has to secure the Republican nomination on Sept. 9, but his willingness to go on television early suggests that freshman Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) faces a real race.

The $75,000 ad buy will be placed today in the Albany media market, which covers approximately three-quarters of the district. The ad will run for at least one week at 800 gross ratings points, a substantial media buy.

Treadwell, who is personally wealthy, raised more than $1.6 million for his campaign in the first quarter of the year, including almost $949,000 of his own money. The former Sports Illustrated writer showed more than $928,000 on hand on March 31.

But the Congresswoman should be ready for the fight. Gillibrand raised an astounding $3.2 million through the first quarter and had almost $2.5 million in the bank at the end of March.

Even in the current political environment, Republicans believe the 20th district is competitive, and that former Rep. John Sweeney’s (R) personal troubles gave the seat to the Democrats in 2006. Gillibrand defeated Sweeney 53 percent to 47 percent.

— Nathan L. Gonzales